Shelf paper



jam 24-, 19330 E. KARFIOL 9 3 SHELF PAPER Filed April 50, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Eda/Ufa Earfibl A Jam. 24, W33, E. KARFIOL SHELF PAPER Filed April 50, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ia u/ard fiarfa'oli ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 24, 1933 PATENT OFFICE EDWARD KARFIOL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SHELF PAPER Application filed April 80, 1932. Serial No. 608,379.

This invention relates to shelf papers and is inclusive not only of those which are used as a shelf covering and are provided with edgings adapted to hang over the front edge 5 of the shelf, but to shelf papers which constitute edgings only.

Both shelf papers with ed ings and edgings per se for use.on shelves ave long been employed and in recent times the edgings in particular have been scallo ed, picoted, denticulated or otherwise con ormed, while the surfaces of the edgings have been embossed, printed and otherwise decorated to produce aesthetic designs in shape and color.

Shelf papers and edgings as required by the trade necessitate the use of economical stock and manufacturing prices must beliept at a minimum, while the requirements for the aesthetic steadil increase. The paper heretofore employe has, generally speaking, been of a relatively cheap texture, well adapted for ornamentation and design and permitting it to readily conform to the shelves and/or the'front edges thereof. This paper is economically manipulated in the course of manufacture and effectually serves its purpose from the standpoint of service, wear and appearance. It is open, however, to the serious objection that it requires careful handling and tends to tear at the edges when subjected to relatively slight tensional strains or when struck by articles during placement on or removal from the shelf.

Furthermore shelf papers with edgings and edgings alone are generally pac aged in rolled or in longitudinally folded condition. When such packages are opened and the paper strip applied to the shelf, there is a tendency in allpapers now manufactured to bulge or hang from the edge of the shelf in a wavy, unattractive manner, whereas for the best artistic effects, the edging should hang sheer, in a straightline. One of the most dilficult problems in this art is to make a shelf paper. which will hang sheer, as specified,

which will not crimp or bulge and which will present a neat and tailored appearance.

With the foregoing considerations in mind,

r theobject of the present invention'is to provide a shelf paper with associated edging or inferior grade.

an edging per so which will be free from the disadvantages to which I have referred, namely, one which will hang sheer and will present a tailored appearance and at the same time will be sufliciently strong to better withstand all ordinary strains to which paper of the cgaracter specified will be normally sub- ]ecte Another object of the invention is to produce a shelf paper where a number of new and attractive designs may be made or formed by the use of combinations of colored, plain, pleated or embossed reinforcing members.

Another object of the invention is to produce a shelf paper where the face of the shelf paper is made of a high grade stock and the main portion may be made of a comparatively And still another object of the invention is to produce a laminated or reinforced shelf paper in which the laminations run parallel with the outer edge of the paper at predetermined distances from the outer edge thereof, and extends transversely of the shelf paper to a depth of the face or the embossed or printed portion thereof slightly overlapping same. A shelf paper that is inexpensive to manufacture and at the same time being very strong, ornamental and attractive.

Speaking generally, the invention consists in providing paper edging with longitudinal reinforcing members, preferably in the form of bands which extend longitudinally of the shelf edge when the edging is in place thereon. These longitudinal reinforcing bands extend parallel to the line of symmetry of the lower free edge of the edging and form an inherent part thereof, the several parts of said edging being permanently united to one another in a manner to effect maximum rigidity and strength. The incorporation of such longitudinal reinforcing means minimizes the tendency of the edging to flare or present a wavy, unsightly appearance and, at the same time, imparts to such edging increased strength, permitting it to withstand such tearing strains to which it would ordinarily be subjected.

An important feature of the invention is inherent in the fact that the reinforcing bands to which I have referred may be so disposed as to materially reinforce that portion of the edging which extends over the forward upper edge of the shelf, so that when the shelf paper, for example, is folded down over inafter detailed description and claims, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The accompanyin drawings illustrate different practical em iments of the invention, but the structures shown therein are to be understood asillustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 is a fragmental section perspective showing a portion of the shelf with the shelf paper ositioned thereon and provided with an edging embodying this invention.

Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are similar views showing illustrative, modified forms of the invention.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figures 1-9, but showing a shelf edging of this invention.

Figures 11 and 12 are sectional views similar to Figure 10, but showing further modified forms of the invention incorporated in edging only.

Shelf papers with shelfcovermg portions and edgings are conveniently manufactured in the form of paper strips of various widths and lengths appropriate for use on shelves of corresponding dimensions. In the several figures of the drawings, I have indicated a sud? by the reference character 1, the forward edge of said shelf being designated 2. The shelf covering portion of the shelf'paper strip is designated 3 and embodies that portion of the paper strip which actually overiies the upper surface of the shelf.

By reference to Figure 1, it will be noted that, at the forward. margin of the shelf covering portion 3, a flap 4 is adapted to hang free over the front edge 2 of the shelf and form an edging therefor. which, in practice, tends to curl, bulge and assume a wavy appearance which detracts from the appearance of the edging. Furthermore, it is this flap which, under present practice, becomes easily torn or damaged.

The present invention so far as shelf papers are concerned are directed to improvements in this flap for the purpose of strengthening the same and to insure a neat, tailored appearance thereto.

According tothe invention as exhibited in Figure 1, there is attached to the flap one or more reinforcing bands. In this figure,=t'wo such bands 5 and 6 are shown, one'of which is placed on the front or exposed face of the flap and the other of which is positioned on the back or concealed face of the flap. In practice, either of said bands may be omitted It is this flap so that the flap has either an inside band or an outside band as desired but throu h the employment of a double band great y increased strength and rigidity are obtained. The bands 5 and 6 are of paper and may be made of the same paper as the shelf covering portions and flaps 3 and 4, or they may be made of an inferior or superior paper as may be desired.

The reinforcing bands described and shown in connection with Fi re 1 of the drawings as well as the rein orcing bands and memhers, which I will hereinafter refer to in connection with the remaining figures of the drawings, are secured to the flap in a permanent manner by any one or more of several methods which serve to adhesively maintain the parts in assembled relation. The term adhesively, as used throu bout this specification, is defined as that re aticn or state which causes the parts to adhere or be aflixed to one another by adhesion and to be joined or united. This adhesion may be brought about as'stated in several ways.

For example, the parts may be caused to adhere to one another by applying to one or both of them a paste or glue which will cause said parts, when brought together, to stick to one another by virtue of the interposed cementitious. material.

By way of further example, the adhesion to which I refer may be obtained by moisten-- ing or dampening the paper plies and forcing them togetherunder pressure with or without the presence of heat to cause them to adhere to one another through their own inherent properties of adhesion.

By way of further example, the parts may be placed in=v face abutting relation to one another and pressed, embossed, punched, or otherwise manipulated to cause the fibres or different parts of the several laminations to interfit or interlock in; a. manner to cause said parts to adhere to one another and possess the property of mutual adhesion.

Thus. the adhesive relation towhichl have and shall refer contemplates generically the act or state of adhering or of being united and" attached in close connection or associationby the inherent properties of the materials of the respective parts and/or: through the manipulation of said parts and/or the interposition of a cementitious material or glue between the parts.

If a cementitious material or glueis; employed to adhesively secure the parts together, I find in practice that in certaincombinations of papers best results are obtained if'thesglue or paste is applied to one orrboth of thesparts to be secured together by'broadcast distribution over said surface or surfaces, whileother combinations of paper appear to best advantage if they adhere only'at certain points which may be regularly or irregularly spaced- Thus, when the parts are adhesiively material is employed, it is possible to perforate that portion of the flap which lies between the bands 5 and 6, so the cementitious material applied to one of the bands will pass through the perforations of the flap and thus be applied to the other band when thepartsare brought together for the purpose of securing all three parts together.

It will be noted from Figure 1 that the finished product has an edge which is materially reinforced through a laminated arrangement of paper plies adhesively secured together and for the purpose of illustration in this and the other figures of the drawings, I have shown the parts as lued together by a cementitious material, in icated at 7, without, however, intending to restrict the invention to the use of such material to obtain the adhesive relation to which I have referred.

. When a laminated. arrangement is produced, as shown in Figure 1, the resulting structure will have an edge which is materially reinforced and stiffened with the result that when shelf paper of this character is applied to a shelf the tendency of the edge to curl or bend is minimized and a smooth,-

tailored appearance results.

In the structure of Figure 2, the reinforcing band 8 is applied in the same unanner as the band 5 in Figure 1, but is of such transverse width that it extends from the lower free edge of the flap 4 upwardly to cover the entire flap and extend over the adjacent margin of the shelf covering portion 3 as shown at 9. It is adhesively secured to theflap and the part 3 and entirely conceals the flap when the shelf paper is in place on the shelf. The arrangement shown in this figure permits of the employment of an inferior grade of shelf paper for the parts 3 and 4, since they are entirely concealed, while the paper band 8 may be of a high grade paper.

Ifdesired, the structure of Figure 2 may be reversed, that is to say, the reinforcing band 8 may be adhesively secured to the back side or concealed face of the flap 4. In either event, the laminated reinforcing stiffening effect of the band 8 will be very material in this construction.

The structure of Figure 3 is similar to that of Figure 2 except that the reinforcing band 8 is of a less width than. the flap 4, so as to expose the lower portion of the flap and said band also terminates at the upper edge of the inforcing band along the lower free edge of the flap 4 or extending it for the full width of the flap as in Figure 2, a plurality of reinforcin bands 10 and 11 are vertically spaced apart rom the edge of the flap and from each other. Any number of these bands may be employed and they may have ornamental edges ifdesired and be ositioned on either or both sides of the flap epending upon conditions. They may be made of different paper from that embodied in the flap 4 or from each other.

In the structure of the preceding figures, the reinforcing bands may be adhesively secured to the flap 3 throughout their entire widths. In Figure 5, however, two reinforcing bands 12 and 13 are shown, both of different width with res ect to one another and w th respect to the ap 4. Portions of the w dth of both bands are secured to the underlying part, but the free edges of the bands as well as the free edge of the flap are unattached. The band 12 is secured to the flap 4 from the line 14 to its upper edge, while the band 13 is secured to the band 12 from the line 15 to its upper edge. Thus, difi'erent transverse portions of the flap are reinforced by one and two additional reinforcing bands, respectively, while the free edge of each of these parts is unattached, so as to hang unattached and produce a deeper shadow at the lower edges of the bands 12 and 13, while at the same time reinforcing the flap 4 as hereinbefore described.

The arrangement of Figure 5 furthermore reinforces that portion of the shelf paper which extends over the shelf edge of the shelf,

against tearing at this line.

The structure of Figure 6 is, in many respects, similar to the structure of Figure 5, except that the two reinforcing bands 16 and 17 are positioned back of the flap 4 and are secured thereto and to one another, as shown, to produce a longitudinal reinforced edging and to likewise reinforce the shelf paper at the shelf edge.

The arrangement shown in Figure 7 is in many respects similar to that of Figure 6, except that the rearmost reinforcing band 18 which corresponds to the band 17 does not extend to overlie the edge of the shelf, but terminates short of the band 16 a distance somewhat greater than the thickness of the shelf. In this construction, there is effectual longitudinal stiffening with less reinforcement at the edge of the shelf and with corresponding saving of paper stock.

Figure 8 shows a further'illustrative form of the invention as applied to shelf papers.

Here the flap is made relatively short and two reinforcing bands 19' and 20 are shownadhesively secured to the fiap, so that when the paper is on the sl1elf,.the reinforcing bands will hang below the lower edge of the flap. In practice, I may use two reinforcing bands 19 and 20 as shown, which bands may be of the same widths or different widths as illustrated, or I may use either of these bands to the exclusion of the other without departing from this invention. A very satisfactory structure results if the flap is provided with only one reinforcing band 19, for the reason that this structure produces marked economies by minimizing the width of the shelf covering portion and flap due to glue relatively narrow width of the flap in this gure.

In the several preceding figures of the drawings, the reinforcing bands are shown in each instance as made separate from the flap 4 and thereafter secured thereto. It is possible, however, to obtain a satisfactory arrangement by making the so-called reinforcing bands integral with one another and with the flap 4 as shownin Figure 9. Here the flap 4 is made much wider than the finished edging and is transversely pleated with one or more close overlying pleats as shown in this figure, so that, in effect, the flap 4 is reinforced by integral laminated bands 22 and 23 which are adhesively united therewith to produce a three ply laminated reinforced structure, while, in turn, the lower edge of the band 23 is pleated and reinforced by the bands 24 and 25 which are adhesively secured together as will be understood to provide a three ply laminated stiffening reinforcement.

The parts shown in Figure 9 are all integral with one another, but they may be made separate and united as in the preceding figures instead of produced by pleating as described. However, irrespective of the method of making, there are present in Figure 9, the reinforcing bands functioning to longitudnally stiffen the edging of the shelf paper as in the preceding figures.

In Figures -1 to 9 of thedrawings, the edging forms part of, or is associated with. a shelf coveringportion 3 adapted to overlie the upper surface of the shelf. The present invention is, as hereinbefore stated. not .limited to the inclusion of the portion 3. but may be incorporated in shelfedgings, which do not have a shelf covering portion or are associated with independent shelf coverings.

In Figure 10, I have shown the general structure of Figure 5 adapted to edging, this being accomplished by merely terminating the upper edges of the flap 4 and reinforcing bands 12 and 13 along the same line, adapted to correspond with the u per edge of the shelf, as exhibited in this gure.

All of the shelf apers which I have shown in the preceding gures may be adapted for edgings in the same manner as Figure 10 illustrates the modification of Fi However, if a finished or further reinforced upper edge of an edging is desired, the uppermost reinforcing band 21 which corresponds to the band 13 of Figure 10 may be extended upwardly over the upper edges of the band 12 and the flap 4 and thence downwardly over the rear face of the flap 4 and adhesively secured thereto as shown in Figure 11. This arrangement will produce a structure similar to Figure 10, but with a finished up er edge, which is unusually rigid for a paper shelf edging. If still more rigidity is desired, the upper edge of the flap 4 may be returned upon itself and adhesively secured in position as shown in Figure 12, the reinforcing bands being of any desired shape and contour at the free edges. The mode of strengthening and further stiffening the upper edges, as exhibited-in Figures 11 and 12, may be carried out in connection with any other edging made in accordance with the structure of the sev eral preceding figures.

No attempt has been made to show all of the various modifications of which this invention is susceptible, either in connection with the shelf paper and edging combination or with the edging per se, but the showing made is sufli'ciently. illustrative to show various adaptations and embodiments of which this invention is susceptible. In practically carrying out the invention, the reinforcing bands may be made of different colors than be printed in different colors. Similarly" said reinforcing bandsin certain cases may, if desired, be transversely pleated as the bands 16 are shown in Figure 7 to produce new and attractive designs of a highly aesthetic and ornamental character, all without prohibitive increase in cost of production and to very marked advantage in the finished product from the standpoint of wear .and appearance.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the invention produces-marked improvements in shelf paper edgings either with or without shelf covering extensions, and consists, essentially, in the utilization of one or more longitudinally extending reinforcing bands which preferably extend paral lel to the line of symmetry of the free edge of.

tending continuously longitudin tudinal stiffness of the desired character with attendant reinforcement against transverse tearing of the edging. l

The invention is to be understood as not 5 limited to the detailed showing of the drawings, but is to be construed as fullycommensurate with the appended claims.

In the fore oing detailed description and in the appen ed claims, I have referred to that portion of the shelf paper which overlies or rests upon the upper surface of the shelf as a shelf covering portion. This shelf covering portion may have a width substantially equal to or less than the width of the shelf, but in any event, it covers at least a portion of the width of the shelf.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A shelf paper comprising a paper shelf covering portion, a longitudinal margin of whichis extended to hang over the edge of a shelf as a flap, and at least one reinforcing band extending longitudinally of and adhesively secured to the flap for reinforcement of said flap and at least a portion of which band is visible to an observer from the front edge of a shelf when the shelf paper is positioned thereon. 7

2. A shelf paper comprising a paper shelf covering portion, a longitudinal margin of which is extended to hang over the edge of a shelf as a flap,"and a reinforcing band ex tending longitudinally of and adhesively secured to the flap for the full depth of the latter for reinforcement of saidflap and at least a portion of which band is visible to an observer from the front edge of a shelf when.

the shelf pa er is positioned thereon.

3. A shel paper comprising a paper shelf covering portion, a longitudinal margin of which is extended to hang over the edge of a shelf as a flap, and a reinforcing band extending lon itudinally of and adhesively secured to the ap to reinforce said flap and at least a portion of which band is visible to an observer from the front edge of a shelf when the shelf paper is positioned thereon, said reinforcing band extending transversel beyond the flap and over the margin 0 the shelf covering portion to reinforce that portion of the shelf paper adapted to overlie the edge of the shelf.

4. A shelf paper comprising a paper shelf covering portion a longitudlnal margin of which is extende to hang over the ed e of a shelf as a flap, and at least onerein orcing band extending continuously longitudinally of and adhesively secured to the front face of the flap for reinforcement of said flap.

5. A shelf paper comprising a paper shelf covering portion, a longitudinal mar 'n of which is extended to hang over the e of a shelf as a flap, and a reinforcin ban exy of and adhesively secured to the back face of the flap for reinforcement of said flap and extending below the free edge of the flap to be visible to an observer from the front edge of a shelf when the shelf paper is positioned thereon.

6. A shelf paper comprising a paper shelf covering portion, a longitudinal margin of which is extended to hang over the edge of'a shelfas a flap, and a reinforcing band extending uninterruptedly longitudinally of said flap and adhesively secured to the back face of and for substantially the full length of said flap to produce a longitudinally reinforced and stiffened flap.

7. A shelf paper comprising a paper shelf covering portion, a longitudinal mar in of which is extended to hang over the e ge of a shelf as a flap, and a plurality of reinforcing bandsmounted on the flap in overlapping positions, to be visible to an observer from the front of the shelf when the shelf paper is positioned thereon, 'and adhesively secured in place for reinforcement of the flap portion.

8. A paper shelf edging embodymg a longitudinally extending foundation strip of paper, and a separate supplementary reinforcing band, of lesser width than the width of the foundation strip, extending continuously along and adhesively secured to the foundation strip for reinforcement, to be visible to an observer, from the front edge of a shelf when the edging is positioned thereon, whereby a stiffened edging is prodi ced by adhesively uniting a plurality of p we 9. A paper shelf edging embodying a longitudinally extending foundation strip of paper, and a plurality of separate supple mentary reinforcing bands, of lesser width than the width of the foundation strip, extendin continuously along and adhesively secure strip for reinforcement, to be visible to an observer from the front edge of a shelf when the edging is positioned thereon, whereby a stiffened cdgin is produced by adhesively uniting a plura 't of plies.

In testimony w ereof, I'have signed the foregoing specification.

. EDWARD KARFIOL.

to the front face of the foundation 

